Radiator flushage

[wuvvum]

I have recently acquired this beastie:

 

 

It's an SX TD, with a 1.7-litre turbo diseasel engine. It drives well enough, although it's not especially fast for a TD in a small car, but it gets rather warm if driven over 60 for extended periods. It cools down quickly once the speed drops, and it doesn't get warm when it's sitting idling. A look in the expansion tank revealed coolant that looks like it has been in there since the car was new - it's pretty gungy and horrible. I'm going to hazard a guess that this is connected to the overheating issues, as there's no sign of impending HGF or other mechanical maladies.

 

So this weekend I plan to give it a coolant change and a good old flush out. I've never had to flush a gunked-up cooling system before though, so what do people reckon is the best thing to use? Is it worth buying a bottle of one of the proprietary radiator flushing products from Wilco's, or would something else be a better bet (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid...)? Any pointers gratefully received.

[dollywobbler]

Car Mechanics once used Daz on the 200k mile Skoda Octavia ex-Taxi. Seemed to do the trick! Just back-flushing the system might do wonders though.

 

Have you felt the rad to see if there are hot/cold patches?

[M'coli]

Caustic soda is a no-no, due to aluminium's ability to react with both acid and alkili (IIRC ampoteric?) but have seen stainless steel cooking pans with an alu base end up as a stainless pan without an alu base after a carbon-removal session in a caustic soda bath...

 

Washing detergent sounds good, as does a rad back-flush.

[wuvvum]

OK, I'll give washing powder a go. Backflushing might be a problem as I don't have a hose pipe (or an outside tap to connect one to), so might have to remove the rad if it comes to that.

[pogweasel]

I hope it's very economical.

[fotorabia]

We ve just had the same issue with the Fozda Laser 323 wagon dizzler we ve just bought...costin us 50squid mind to get it flushed..

[Lankytim]

I find washing powder works a treat too, great for clearing out oil after HG failure.

[wuvvum]

I hope it's very economical.

LOL. First impressions are that it is at least as economical as the Innocenti, and a lot better at overtaking tractors and Tesco lorries. It was also cheap. Annoyingly though, 24 hours after buying it I was offered an S-reg C15D for even less money, although that did need the sills welding for a test.

[dollywobbler]

I really like the style of the Punto, but don't like the comedy heater controls. Like a child's toy. Made in China.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I hope it's very economical.

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

What about a dose of Calgon?

 

Mind you, it can't be too hard to remove the rad and backflush it. Also shoev a gargen hose onto one of the matrix stubs and give it the good news with with the engine running.

[pogweasel]

Annoyingly though, 24 hours after buying it I was offered an S-reg C15D for even less money, although that did need the sills welding for a test.

 

How much welding?

I would go in for a C15, they are my second favourite 'hopelessly outdated van' after the LDV 200.

[wuvvum]

Not a great deal, but I can't weld, and my mate who normally does my welding has blown his Mig up. I don't know anyone else locally who does cheap weldage.

[HillmanImp]

I truly hate those cars. I had one as a hire car when they were new and loathed it. I found it uncomfortable slow and cheaply built. However i had just split up with a girlfriend of 3 years too so was probably only picking up on the negative aspects of it, but there were so many of them it was very easy.

 

Sorry, they post is not really helping the radiator flushing thing, its early and i have a lot of crap work i am avoiding by writing this instead.

[Des]

I wanted to try washing powder recently, could only find stupid liquid versions as I rifled under the sink, then, whilst being forcibly ejected from the kitchen I managed to grab some dishwasher powder, it did a good job.

[nigel bickle]

A hose up its arse usually sorts it.

[Dead_E23]

swmbo has one of these - still going strong(ish) at 161k and has been pretty reliable even though it smokes like a cross channel ferry. Unfortunately they only manage about 45mpg; that's not a lot more than the petrol versions, and I suspect why the diesels didn't sell too well.

 

I recall treating it to a new radiator some years ago because the original had become completely devoid of cooling fins, so it may be worth inspecting yours. Since then, the temperature gauge has rarely moved off the bottom stop apart from on the motorway jaunts - I suppose it would probably benefit from a new thermostat if I could be bothered fitting one.

[Guest]

I like the steering on those Puntos, makes you want to spin the wheel around like mad and blast the horn at every opportunity whilst screaming abuse in Italian.

[Barry Cade]

Citric acid is what you need, much kinder than caustic soda, but will do pretty much the same job as you can leave it in the system for a while without worrying too much. Dishwasher tablets have citric acid in them too, but the real stuff is stronger and cheap.

[Station]

Was told on RR by a fellow named Mystery Machine to use denture tablets, the ones you get in a tube. You put half a tube in the reservoir, and then run it for a day, and then flush it. They can be used to get rid of limescale and carbon buildup on kettles, so I imagine they're quite good. I tried it, and it seemed to do the trick on rust lined water galleries.

[pogweasel]

Don't do that! He's just trying to suck you into his CULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

He also told me to fit new sills using that 'Super Poli-Grip' denture glue

[chaseracer]

You can bond in windscreens with that. Top stuff.